The Boys in Action!

Wanted to share a few videos of the boys.
Connor loves playing the drum (and also likes to say he is playing the violin too...where do kids come up with this stuff, really a violin??)....so here he is jamming on his drum and twirling his drum sticks...



Greyson is quite the little chatterbox these days. But right when you get the camera out, he stops!!! Of course, right? Oh well....here is what we got while he is talking with his Auntie Katie.....



Connor is OBSESSED with his ABCs...and that is putting it mildly. He is quizzing us constantly...so here is in the bathtub with his ABCs...he is even more proficient since shooting this little video, naming all kinds of things that start with the different letters. This video is a little long, just want to warn you....

Florida Trip

Just after Memorial Day we set out on our trip to Florida. This was our first big trip with 2 kids....and we decided to drive. We had a bunch of plans and things along our way, but the main event and destination was Venice for my sister's graduation.
So Tuesday we left the house at 5am. Hoping an early start would allow the boys more time to sleep in the car. That idea went quickly out the window, as both were wide awake. The drive wasn't terribly awful...although mommy had to sit in the back seat between 2 carseats just to make sure both kids were happy. Connor did not sleep the entire 10 hour car ride....but he was a good traveler staying busy with snacks and an ipad. Greyson had his moments...but he did great too!
We arrived in Orlando by mid afternoon, put Connor down for a quick nap and then got ready to go to dinner at our friend's, the McCully's, house. It was great to see them, and their little girl Emma who is just a few weeks older than Connor's. On Wednesday we headed to SeaWorld, where Christine and Emma also met us for a few hours. Connor LOVED SeaWorld (despite a few toddler melt downs and some rainy weather). He especially liked Shamu and the dolphins. We actually got to feed the dolphins too! Greyson was a trooper, sleeping his way through most of SeaWorld.
Thursday we headed on down to Sarasota for my father's veteran's memorial service. It was a small and tasteful event. Only my father's immediate brothers and sisters came. The cemetery provided a nice service and my Uncle Ronnie said a few words of remembrance. They played Taps on the trumpet in his honor, and I was presented with a flag. After the service we went and visited my Aunt Bonnie and spent some time with her. For dinner we spent a quiet night at mom's house and then met up with my friend Erin and her 2 boys for ice cream.
Friday we were able to sneak off to the beach for a hour. Connor had a sudden aversion to sand....so he spent most of that hour on the blanket or being held. He did not want to go in the water either. I think had we had more time, he would have warmed up to it and would have been splashing and playing just as he did last summer at the beach. Friday night was Katie's graduation. She had a pre-commencement ceremony dinner at a Japanese steakhouse. All her friends and family were there to celebrate with her. After that we went and snapped a few pictures of her with her nephews because they were not going to attend the graduation ceremony. It started late and it was just not the place to have 2 young kids. So Jeff stayed with them. Katie did her thing, and graduated from VENICE HIGH SCHOOL...and will attend Stetson in the fall. We are all so proud of her and excited about her future years at Jeff and I's alma mater!
Saturday we headed back to Orlando with a few stops in Tampa. We visited Tammy and Derek and baby Dylan. He is just 6 weeks younger than Greyson. We also met up with Katie and Brett and their little Grace, who is 9 months. So many friends having babies! It is wonderful!! I just wish we lived closer so that we could really spend time with them all!
Once we got back to Orlando we headed to Katie's graduation party that Dad, Andrea, and Uncle Scott had planned for her. A pool party and good food was a great way to spend our last night in Florida with family! We got up early Sunday and headed right back here to the CLT. It was a whirlwind of a trip....and honestly, we were tired by the time we got home....but it was well worth it. And we certainly got to do everything we had set out to do...for the most part! Connor and Greyson were so adaptable...both had their schedules turned upside down and inside out, but they just went with the flow and as long as they got a little nap her or there, they were fine!
That was our main trip for the summer...and as I told all our family down there...we wouldn't be seeing them for Christmas, as the Doehne family will be staying home in NC for the first Christmas ever. So not sure when we will head down again...may not be until sometime in 2012...but we'll see.
We have a lot of pictures to share...so enjoy!!!

The last of Spring...

GREYSON had his 2 month doctor's appointment a week or 2 ago, he measured in at 23 inches long, which is in the 50th percentile. His head was also in the 50 percentile at 41 cm. He weighed 12 pounds, which was in the 75th percentile.
He is doing really well! He is a very happy baby.....except for the evening hour of fussiness :) He likes to be swaddled at night to sleep, and takes a paci, although, not as often as his brother did. He loves to watch Connor....and Connor loves to give Greyson hugs or point out the animal that might be on Greyson's onesie that day.
Here are some more pics of them.





Connor is very much into the alphabet. He loves to say it over and over again...as well as identify letters anywhere he sees them. Here is is doing his alphabets in the bath tub.


Greyson enjoying his bath time too!


We went to the Davidson Concert in the park the other night with the Schnabel family. Here are some pics from the evening. We had a picnic dinner and the kids had a blast dancing to the band of Oz!






We are heading to Florida this week to celebrate my sister's graduation from high school. While down there we have a lot of fun things planned...pictures to follow when we return! Until then, HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY EVERYONE!!!

Mother's Day

I think Mother's Day has become my favorite holiday!! Maybe it is because my husband makes me feel so special for being a mother to our children. Yesterday was such a treat! The gift giving began at 11pm on Saturday night...I went to bed for the first full night sleep I have had since giving birth to Greyson. This little gift began the year I had Connor....Jeff taking all night duties while I restfully recharged my batteries in the guest bedroom :) We went to church followed by brunch. After a family nap hour...we went to the Lazy 5 Ranch to do the drive through animal safari. What a wonderful day!!!
I also couldn't help but share these picture.....I still think they look pretty alike.

Connor as a baby on mother's day 2 years


Greyson in the same outfit (sans sweater vest...too hot) this mother's day




The boys after brunch

Photo Session

Wanted to share a few pictures from our most recent photo session....greyson's newborn pics. Thank you to the always amazing photographer, Jody G! Enjoy!!

And the Doctor says....

Just wanted to update you all on the boys stats after they went to the doctor last week.

Connor had his 2 year check up. He is weighing 32 pounds and measuring 36" (or 3 Ft.!!) Both are in the 90% for his age. He has been running in the 90%s since he was 1 month old!!!



Greyson has his 1 month check up. He weighed 10 pounds, 2 ounces and was 22" long. Weight is in the 70% and length is in the 75%. His head measured at the 75% as well. So far Greyson is not following in his brother's footsteps as being a big baby! But he still looks a lot like him. Here is a 1 month pic.



Connor is still going to "school" a few days a week to give mommy and Greyson a break. He is doing so much better being a big boy....walking to the car, walking up and down the stairs, etc. Greyson is starting to smile socially...so we know the giggles and coos are not too far behind. Greyson is getting better with sleeping too. The past few nights we have had only 1 night time feeding with a wake up call around 6. That is not too shabby!! Soon we will have Connor's big boy room together so that we can get Greyson into his own room too. Hopefully we will have some pics of that by the end of the month!

Happy Easter

What a fun Easter we had this year. Friday evening we went to the mall and while we were there Connor wanted to go visit the mall Easter Bunny. We had no intention of pushing that on him, but when he wanted to go we decided to give it a try. He was very brave and walked all the way up to the bunny. At the last minute he ran to his daddy and wanted him to come too. Only then would Connor pose for a picture with the Easter Bunny. We have to say, it is better than Connor's past experiences with Santa....so we'll take those baby steps!
On Saturday we went to an easter egg hunt that our church hosted at a nursing home. They had lots of fun activities for the kids including a petting zoo. Connor just loved seeing the baby goat and lamb. They also had baby ducks, a pig, and a bunny. The residents of the nursing home definitely enjoyed seeing the little kids play! It was a nice time for all!
On Sunday, Connor and Greyson woke up to their easter baskets from the easter bunny. Connor played with all the goodies and even found some eggs we hid around the house. Then we went to church, which was Greyson's first time going to church. He did well, slept through the service with a little help from daddy rocking him occasionally. Connor did well too, he sat through the service with us without going to the nursery. He loves to play with the kid apps on my phone (a terrible habit we have allowed). Afterwards we went to brunch at Pikes then home for nap time. We had a nice dinner too, I made a ham with all the fixings. However, Connor had a major melt down that resulted in his first time in "time out" ever. We are not even sure what triggered his meltdown....no cartoons, not wanting to eat, not wanting milk....??? Who knows...but he calmed down pretty quickly after his few minutes on the step.
Here are a few pictures from the weekend. I know I need to start taking more of Greyson...but he is usually sleeping :)